By Chris Broussard
ESPN The Magazine
Archive
The New York Knicks have reached out to Memphis about participating in a three-team deal that would send Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo to Denver and Carmelo Anthony to New York, according to league sources.

Talks are in the infant stages and nothing is imminent, but the discussions are a sign of the Knicks' increased aggressiveness in trying to trade for Anthony.

Emboldened by their belief that Anthony will refuse to sign a three-year, $65 million contract extension with the New Jersey Nets, the Knicks have stepped up their efforts to bring the Nuggets star to New York.

Anthony

Mayo

The Knicks have tried to engage Denver in trade talks all season, but the Nuggets, unmoved by the players New York has to offer, have been unwilling to partake in significant discussions. Sources, however, say that is changing as the Nuggets themselves wonder whether Anthony is willing to go to New Jersey.

The Knicks understand they need to recruit another trade partner or two in order to put together a package Denver would be interested in, and that's their motivation for inquiring about Mayo. It is not clear at this point whether Denver is actively involved in the talks with Memphis.

Mayo, who has had a disappointing and controversial season in Memphis, is on the trading block, and the Knicks' hope is that he would satisfy Denver's desire for a promising young prospect. Though the third-year guard is coming off the bench and scoring less than 13 points a game this season, Mayo averaged 18 points over his first two years.

Rumors surfaced last month about Mayo possibly being traded to the Knicks, but the Knicks' only interest in him is to aid them in acquiring Anthony.

The Knicks will also need at least one first-round draft pick to grab Denver's attention, and New York is confident it can get such a pick for Anthony Randolph from one of several clubs. Sources say Indiana was willing to trade a first-round pick to New York for Randolph last summer.Any Knicks package for Anthony would also likely include some combination of Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari or Landry Fields.

While the Nuggets weren't impressed with those names early in the season, their strong play during the Knicks' resurgence has upped their value, according to sources.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets continue to discuss a possible three-team deal with the Nets and Pistons. In a deal that could include more than 13 players, the Nets would receive Anthony, Chauncey Billups and Detroit's Richard Hamilton while Denver would get Nets rookie Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, two first-round draft picks and several other minor players.

But even if the clubs agree to a deal, Anthony could kill it by refusing to sign an extension to play long-term in New Jersey. Several sources say Anthony does not want to play in New Jersey and has thus far given no indication that he would sign such an extension.

Anthony's agent, Leon Rose, has been pushing for a deal with New Jersey and, in an effort to get the star to sign off on the trade, several people have been telling Anthony that New York doesn't want to break up its current team to get him, according to sources.

Sources say that's why Anthony made the curious comment on Monday in which he wondered whether the Knicks even wanted him.

"New York is playing well right now. I don't think they're looking at me," Anthony said. "They wouldn't want me to come in there and mess what they have up. That's what I've read."

But the Knicks are very interested in Anthony. The club's preference would be to sign him as a free agent next summer and thereby keep their current roster intact.

But in that scenario, Anthony would not receive the $65 million extension and with a new collective bargaining agreement on the horizon, he would risk losing millions of dollars by entering free agency.

If Anthony eventually nixes a move to New Jersey and tells Denver he will only sign an extension with New York, the Nuggets would likely either trade him to the Knicks or a club like Houston that would be willing to trade for him without his signing an extension.

Chris Broussard covers the NBA for ESPN The Magazine.

Follow Chris Broussard on Twitter: @chris_broussard

pwee31

01-13-2011, 08:37 PM

I hear that Minnesota is the team willing to give a 1st for Randolph now. Adding to their PF and PG team

BornReady#6

01-13-2011, 08:46 PM

I like Randolph, but given our current situation with Tyler and Josh, and our upcoming free agent predicament, I wouldn't give a 1st for him, he is obviously a problem if GS and now NY are so willing to part ways with him.

pacer4ever

01-13-2011, 08:47 PM

I hear that Minnesota is the team willing to give a 1st for Randolph now. Adding to their PF and PG team

I would hope it is protected for awhile they will be a high lotto team. most likely top 3.

BringJackBack

01-13-2011, 09:04 PM

If I hear one more Carmelo Anthony rumor I think that I am going to explode.

:nuclear:

pwee31

01-13-2011, 09:06 PM

I would hope it is protected for awhile they will be a high lotto team. most likely top 3.

They've been stockpiling picks since the Garnett trade, they had what, 3 first round picks last year?

Next year they have their own, and I think the Grizzlies, which is top 14 protected

vnzla81

01-13-2011, 09:20 PM

Please trade the guy, I can't do it anymore ....................

pwee31

01-13-2011, 09:30 PM

Denver milking this for all it's worth. Trying to get the most out of a deal possible.

They're threatening other teams publicly for leaking information on the rumored deals publicly?

They're just trying to put pressure on other teams to get something done.

pizza guy

01-13-2011, 10:10 PM

Denver and Melo are just holding out for Indiana to call and offer TJ, Dunleavy, and Solomon Jones. Once Bird makes that call, it'll all be over.

Day-V

01-13-2011, 10:15 PM

Denver and Melo are just holding out for Indiana to call and offer TJ, Dunleavy, and Solomon Jones. Once Bird makes that call, it'll all be over.

The real thing holding the deal up is that Carmelo knows the Pacers are offering too much on the contract extension. He wants to sign for the Vet Minimum.

PaceBalls

01-13-2011, 10:56 PM

The real thing holding the deal up is that Carmelo knows the Pacers are offering too much on the contract extension. He wants to sign for the Vet Minimum.

Carmello would be awesome to have backing up Posey.

Trophy

01-13-2011, 11:02 PM

The Knicks seemed high on Anthony Randolph and I didn't figure they'd trade him.

I wouldn't mind bringing him in to come off the bench to backup either Tyler or Roy.

He put on a lot more weight since coming into the NBA and is more aggressive defensively and offensively. He blocks shots and can shoot around the post.

If we do trade our first round pick for him, hopefully we made the playoffs.

90'sNBARocked

01-13-2011, 11:45 PM

He put on a lot more weight since coming into the NBA and is more aggressive defensively and offensively. He blocks shots and can shoot around the post.
If we do trade our first round pick for him, hopefully we made the playoffs.

Me too man

Randolph is probably more NBA ready than anyone we could draft next year
and I cant take any more "projects" especially with the current coach

CableKC

01-14-2011, 12:01 AM

I think the hold up is due to the Nuggets ( being too greedy ) but mainly Melo hemming and hawing not saying anything but delaying his way to the Knicks. I really hope that the Nuggets ship him off to the Nets. I'm sick of this prima-Donna crap from players like Melo. In all honesty, he's a much better franchise player to build around over Granger, but he's not IMHO in the same catagory as Kobe, Lebron or DWade.

spreedom

01-14-2011, 12:13 AM

I don't understand why the Wolves would give up a 1st for Randolph. Actually, let me rephrase: I understand why the Wolves would give up a 1st for Randolph, but I don't think trying to find minutes for Beasley/Love/Randolph (while owing all three extensions in the next couple of years) is a good idea.

pacer4ever

01-14-2011, 12:32 AM

I don't understand why the Wolves would give up a 1st for Randolph. Actually, let me rephrase: I understand why the Wolves would give up a 1st for Randolph, but I don't think trying to find minutes for Beasley/Love/Randolph (while owing all three extensions in the next couple of years) is a good idea.

Beasley is a SF AR would back up Love and play some 5 behind Darko

cdash

01-14-2011, 01:08 AM

Beasley is a SF AR would back up Love and play some 5 behind Darko

In the long run, I think Beasley might end up being better suited at PF.

Oh, and David Kahn is the living definition of "in over his head". That man has no clue what he's doing.

CableKC

01-14-2011, 02:09 AM

How many assets do the Knicks have?

If the Knicks luck out and the GMs of other Teams just decide to help them out without gutting the Knicks of all the remaining assets that the Knicks have ( which I'd think that they should do ), the best most optimistic deal that I can come up ( assuming that all these rumors come to fruition ) would be:

- 1st round pick from the TWolves (?) by trading Randolph which would likely be some late teens to 20s pick
- Trade Chandler or Fields to the Grizzlies for Mayo
- Whoever is left ( Chandler or Fields ) and Gallinari
- Expiring Contracts as filler
- Willingness to take on either Harrington or Renaldo Balkman's long-term Contract

I'd just hope that if the TWolves or the Grizzlies really consider dealing with the Knicks....I'd really hope that they would do their best to ask for a very high asking price for whatever assets that the Knicks get....kind of like what the Pistons asked for in return for Rip IF he would have been sent to the Nets.

The Knicks can offer to take on Billups or Nene's contracts...but those are positive assets that I'd think that the Nuggets would want to deal elsewhere where they can get some real assets.

I really think that Melo is hoping for that...but the Nuggets would just won't get market-value for him if he goes to the Knicks. I just don't get why the Nuggets would want to wait for what would amount to below-market offer from the Knicks

Day-V

01-14-2011, 06:08 AM

Beasley is a SF AR would back up Love and play some 5 behind Darko

I was thinking that if the Wolves were to bring in Randolph, that would mean that Love is either getting traded or won't re-sign once his contract is up. Either way, if Minnesota goes after Randolph, it's a signal that they're preparing for life after Kevin Love.

ballism

01-14-2011, 07:02 AM

Minnie doesn't have a decent backup 4 and has excess of slow-ish backup 5s. Randolph makes sense to them as a backup.
Doubt they are trading Love. That ship has sailed.

"The Knicks' only interest in Mayo is to aid them in acquiring Anthony.

The Knicks will also need at least one first-round draft pick to grab Denver's attention, and New York is confident it can get such a pick for Anthony Randolph from one of several clubs. Sources say Indiana was willing to trade a first-round pick to New York for Randolph last summer."

PacerPride33

01-14-2011, 11:36 AM

Randolph would be great in Indy! He is exactly what we are lacking, an athletic big

CableKC

01-14-2011, 12:21 PM

I still don't see how the Knicks could acquire the necessary assets that the Nuggets would want without moving ALL of them ( Chandler, Randolph, Fields and Gallinari ) leaving the Knicks with nothing more then Felton, Melo and Amare ( at least for this season ).

I'm guessing that Melo will push the Nuggets not to ask for much....but I really hope that the Nuggets push the Knicks to take on all the garbage that they pushed onto the Nets ( Harrington and/or Balkman ) while looking for a firesale afterwards on Billups and Nene.